Country of the World Falkland Islands

About the country Falkland Islands, its location, size, population, leaders and rulers.

NATIONS AND THEIR RULERS

FALKLAND ISLANDS

Size: 4,700 sq. mi. (12,173 sq. km.).

Population: 1,900.

In the south Atlantic, the Falklands are a tiny, bleak, windswept archipelago of 200 islands lying almost 450 mi. off the coast of southern Argentina. There are two principal islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, which are separated by the Falkland Sound, a narrow strait at most 22 mi. wide. Only about a dozen of the islands are inhabited. Sheep farming is the main business of the islanders. Although nominally a British colony since 1833, the Falklands have been claimed by Argentina as well. Oil and natural gas fields recently discovered offshore of the islands have revived the old controversy.